US Launches Airstrikes in Syria as ISIS Posts New Video Featuring Hostage John Cantlie

The United States and allied nations executed a series of 14 airstrikes in Syria on Monday night (Sept. 22) ABC News reports. The strikes targeted ISIS training facilities, command centers, weaponry and vehicles in an effort to slow the progress of the terrorist group.

Col. Stephen Ganyard, a consultant for ABC News said, "This is almost like a Desert Storm where we went in with lots of firepower, everything that the United States has. All of the best gear is going into this fight because we have to treat it like a very high-threat environment."

Shortly after the US announced that it had successfully carried out the airstrikes, ISIS released a new propaganda video featuring British hostage John Cantlie. The video portrays the hostage sitting behind a desk and speaking in the style of a news report. It follows a similar video of Cantlie that was released last Thursday (Sept. 18).

Cantlie condemns his government for abandoning him and refers to himself as “a long-term prisoner of the Islamic State.”

Cantlie also discusses the size of and sophistication of ISIS terrorists. "Current estimates of 15,000 troops needed to fight the Islamic State are laughably low. The State has more mujahideen than this," he says.

Authorities said last week that it is believed Cantlie is not acting on his own accord and is under the influence of ISIS.